JP2004537811A

JP2004537811A - How to analyze and provide inter-patent relationships from patent databases

Info

Publication number: JP2004537811A
Application number: JP2003517793A
Authority: JP
Inventors: ヨン−ギュン・イ; イル−スー・キム; シク・チョイ; ジ−ラク・ジュン
Original assignee: ウィズドメイン・インコーポレーテッド
Priority date: 2001-08-01
Filing date: 2002-03-11
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: KR100436356B1; WO2003012688A1; EP1415247A1; KR20030012516A; US20040133433A1; EP1415247A4

Abstract

特に先行特許中入力された対象特許が出願時引用した特許を分析するかまたは先行特許中入力した対象特許を出願時引用した特許を分析するべきかまたは上記の２つの特許分析を同時にするかによって区分して分析し特許データベース内に貯蔵されている各先行特許の情報中’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’情報から検索を遂行してもまず’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’内の対象特許の特許番号が直接記載された特許を検索した後，先行特許データベースの’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’内に上記検索された直接関連特許の特許番号が直接記載された特許を追加に検索する作業をくりかえして分析に必要な基本データを得て上記基本データを基準して対象特許と引用関係にある先行特許等の間に引用状態を図式的に現わす引用関係図を生成して提供する。In particular, whether to analyze the patents cited at the time of filing of the target patent entered in the prior patent, or to analyze the patents cited at the time of filing the target patent entered in the prior patent, or to analyze the above two patents simultaneously Even if a search is performed based on the information of each prior patent stored in the patent database by analyzing the reference patents, the patents in which the patent numbers of the target patents in the reference reference are directly described are first obtained. After the search, the process of additionally searching for the patent in which the patent number of the directly searched patent was directly described in the "Referenced cited" of the prior patent database was repeated to obtain the basic data necessary for the analysis. A citation that graphically shows the citation status between prior patents, etc. that are in citation with the target patent based on the data It generates and provides engagement view.

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は特許出願時引用した先行特許の特許情報を入れたフィールドを具備した特許データベースから探そうとする対象特許に関連した特許等の相互引用関係を分析して提供する為の方法に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
産業が発展するにより知的財産権に対する価値はもっとも重要になり企業の興亡盛衰を決定する大きい要因の１つである。莫大な費用を投資して事業していた世界屈指の企業も競争会社の核心特許単いくつて瞬間的に没落する事も発生している。いま知的財産権は生き残る為の唯一な防禦手段であり攻撃手段である。
【０００３】
このように急迫な状況下で各企業は競争会社の知的財産権を分析しこれを通じ自社の研究開発戦略を樹立する為努力している。及びもこのような分析作業は多数の專門家でも相当な時間を要する膨大な作業であり自動的に実行する為、多数のｓｏｆｔｗａｒｅ会社は特許分析用わくを開発した。しかし、これら従来の特許分析用わくは大部分外形的な定量分析情報だけを提供して実際必要な正常的な情報はほとんど提供しなかった。すなわち従来の特許分析用わくでは自社及び競争社の特許に対した価値がどの程度で、競争会社の特許に対した自社製品の侵害可能性はどの程度で、回避可能戦略は何か自社特許に対する競争社製品の侵害可能性はどの程度かを提供出来なかった。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は上記の様に従来技術の短所を補完しようと特許出願時引用した先行特許の特許情報を入れたフィールドを具備した特許データベースから探そうとする対象特許に関連した特許の相互の引用関係を分析して提供する為の方法を提示する事を目的とする。
【０００５】
【発明の実施の形態】
上記目的を達成する為の本発明は次の様な段階を包含してなされる。
すなわち対象特許の出願番号または公開番号または登録番号中少なくとも１つ（以下’特許番号’という）を入力する段階と，
先行特許中入力した対象特許が出願時引用した特許（以下’バックワード（Ｂａｃｋｗａｒｄ）特許’という）を分析するか先行特許中入力した対象特許を出願時引用した特許（以下’フォワード（Ｆｏｒｗａｒｄ）特許’という）を分析するかバックワード特許及びフォワード（Ｆｏｒｗａｒｄ）特許を統合して（以下’Ｃｏｌｌａｔｅｒａｌ特許’という）分析するのを選択する段階と，
上記選択条件により先行特許データベース内に貯蔵されている各先行特許情報中’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’情報から検索を実行しても先に’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’内に対象特許の特許番号が直接記載された特許（以下’直接関連特許’という）を検索した後先行特許データベースの’Ｒｅｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｃｉｔｅｄ’内に上記検索した直接関連特許の特許番号が直接記載された特許（以下’間接関連特許’という）を追加検索する段階と，
バックワード特許に対する分析を選択する時は対象特許と上記検索された直接及び間接関連バックワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わす引用関係図（ｃｉｔａｔｉｏｎｔｒｅｅ）を生成して画面の一部領域にディスプレイする段階と，
フォワード特許に対する分析を選択する時は、対象特許は上記検索された直接及び間接関連フォワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わす引用関係図を生成して画面の一部領域にディスプレイする段階と，
Ｃｏｌｌａｔｅｒａｌ特許に対した分析を選択する時は対象特許と上記検索された直接及び間接関連バックワード特許間の関連関係と供に対象特許と上記検索された直接及び間接関連フォワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わす引用関係図を生成画面の一部領域にディスプレイする段階，
使用者の選択により上記引用関係図を拡大または縮小し画面上にディスプレイする段階と，
対象特許と直接および間接関係にある特許中特定出願人，発明者，国際特許分類コード（ＩＰＣ），米国特許分類コード（ＵＰＣ），特許年度別中の１つに追加検索をした後検索結果をグループ化して引用関係を上記引用関係図上に追加出来る機能を提供する段階と，
使用者の選択により画面上にディスプレイされた引用関係図を貯蔵するとか印刷する段階と，
使用者の選択により検索された直接及び間接関連特許全体を貯蔵するとか印刷する段階と，
上記貯蔵した特許に対し書誌的事項中使用者が選択したフィールドだけで編集した文書を作成するとかまたは特定フィールドに対する図表を作成し使用者に提供する段階を包含して達成する事を特徴とする。
この時バックワードまたフォワード分析を選択する時検索された直接及び間接関連特許の数が多い事を引用関係図を通じて一時に現わす時使用者の効率的情報活用の困難する点を勘案し，
検索した特許範囲内で引用関係図上表示しようとする特許のｄｅｐｔｈ（対象特許と直接関連関係にある特許を’ｄｅｐｔｈ１特許’と定義してｄｅｐｔｈ１特許と直接関連関係にある特許を’ｄｅｐｔｈ２特許’と定義する）を使用者が選択する段階と，
選択されたｄｅｐｔｈに該当する特許件数と引用関係図を生成してディスプレイするのに必要な時間を使用者らに知らせこれらの中て１つを選択するように段階を追加的に通過後使用者の選択条件により引用関係図を生成するのが望．ましい。
また直接及び間接関連特許の検索段階以後，
上記検索した直接および間接関連特許に対して任意検索フィールドに対した条件を付加してフィルタリングする段階と，
上記フィルタリング段階を通じて検索した直接および間接関連特許の数が多いこれらの引用関係図を通じて一時に現わす時に使用者が効率的な情報活用が困難な点を勘案して上記フィルタリング段階を通じて検索した直接および間接関連特許の範囲内で引用関係図上に表示しようとする特許のｄｅｐｔｈを使用者が選択する段階と，
選択されたｄｅｐｔｈに該当する特許件数と引用関係図を生成しディスプレイするのに必要な時間を使い使用者に知らせこの中て１つを選択する様にする段階と，
使用者が選択したら選択した条件に引用関係図を生成する段階と，
使用者の選択により上記フィルタリング後生成された引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した状態の全体引用関係図を見せたりまたフィルタリング条件が適用された状態の引用関係図に転換が出来る機能を提供する段階を追加に包含するのも望ましい。
【０００６】
本発明の１つの実施例で上記フィルタリングする検索フィールドを’出願人’としフィルタリングする条件を’出願または登録件数が多い出願人順位１，２，３位’とする時画面上にディスプレイする項目は各分析モードが次の様に区分される。
【０００７】
先にバックワード特許に対し分析を選択した時対象特許を米国特許登録番号５７６０５２６に対し分析する時図１に現われた。
【０００８】
図１に現われたのと同じくディスプレイされる項目は上記検索された直接および間接関連バックワード特許全体に対した特許と，
上記検索された直接および間接関連バックワード特許全体に対し出願人別にソーティングした後出願または登録件数が多い出願人順位に整列リストと，
使用者に核心情報だけを図式的に提供する為上記整列したデータ中１，２，３位にランキングした出願人のデータだけを抽出し上記抽出したデータだけて対象特許とバックワード特許間またバックワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わした引用関係図を包含する。この時図１の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後完全に開いた引用関係図は図２と同じである。
【０００９】
フォワード特許に対する分析を選択した時で、対象特許を米国特許登録番号５１２３４５６に対し分析した時を図３に現わした。
【００１０】
図３に現わしたのと同じくディスプレイされる項目は、
上記検索した直接および間接関連フォワード特許全体に対する特許リストと，
上記検索した直接および間接関連フォワード特許全体に対し出願人別にソーティングした後出願または登録件数が多い出願人順位に整列したリストと，
使用者に核心情報だけを図式的に提供する為上記ソーティングされたデータ中１，２，３位にランキングされた出願人のデータだけを抽出して上記抽出したデータだけで対象特許とフォワード特許間及びフォワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わした引用関係図を包含する。この時図３の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後完全に開いた引用関係図４と同じである。
【００１１】
Ｃｏｌｌａｔｅｒａｌ特許に対する分析を選択した時で、対象特許を米国特許登録番号５１２３４５６に対して分析した時を図５に現わした。
【００１２】
図５で現したのと同じくディスプレイされる項目は
上記検索した直接関連バックワード特許全体に対する特許リストと，
上記検索された直接関連フォワード特許全体に対する特許リストと，
上記検索された間接関連バックワードおよびフォワード特許中対象特許と直接関連関係にある特許（ｄｅｐｔｈ１特許）と上記ｄｅｐｔｈ１特許に対し直接関連関係にある特許（ｄｅｐｔｈ２特許）に対した特許リストと，
使用者に核心情報だけを図式的に提供する為対象特許を中心に一方には対象特許に直接関連したバックワード特許（ｄｅｐｔｈ１バックワード特許）と上記ｄｅｐｔｈ１バックワード特許に対し直接関連関係にあるフォワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わし、対象特許を中心にまた相対の一方に対象特許に直接関連したフォワード特許（ｄｅｐｔｈ１フォワード特許）と上記ｄｅｐｔｈ１フォワード特許に対し直接関連関係にあるバックワード特許間の関連関係を図式的に現わす引用関係図を包含するこの時図５の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後完全に開いた引用関係図は図６と同じである。
【００１３】
上記実施例においてバックワード特許に対する分析を選択した時とフォワード特許に対する分析を選択する時は
使用者が上記引用関係図上に４位以下のランキングを持つ出願人のデータも全て包含出来る様に選択するとこれにより引用関係図を再び生成してディスプレイする。
【００１４】
一便本発明により引用関係図を生成する段階は，
上記検索された特許に対し出願年度または公開年度もしくは登録年度中１つの年度（以下’特許年度’という）別に１次ソーティング後同一年度に属する特許を特許番号順に２次ソーティングし整列する段階と
上記ソーティングして整列された位置に基準し上記ソーティングした各特許（以下’ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ’という）に対した中心座標値を割り当て後、割り当てされた座標値で画面上に該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔを表示する段階と，
上記ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ中互いに直接または間接関連関係にあるｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ間の中心座標値を結ぶ引用関係線を追加表示しても直接関連関係と間接関連関係の区分は線の形態または線の色像が相違する様に区分して引用される先後関係により該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ上に引用関係線の出発点および到着点を区分して表示する段階と，
複数の引用関係が存在して引用関係線が合わせて厚くなる時各引用関係線を区分する為引用関係線が出発する点に該当するｅｌｅｍｅｎｔの中心座標値中心に仮想の円を生成後上記仮像の円周を定めた比率に細分して細分された各各の間隔ごとに引用関係線の出発点を違うように指定し表示する段階と，
使用者が表示条件を変更する時変更した条件により引用関係図上に表示される各ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔの中心座標値を再たび計算してディスプレイする段階を包含してなす事を特徴とする。
【００１５】
この時引用関係図上に表示する各各のｅｌｅｍｅｎｔは該当特許に対する出願人または発明者または米国特許分類コード（ＵＰＣ）または国際特許分類コード（ＩＰＣ）または特許年度中１に表示するマウスポインタをｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ上に位置すると該当特許の書誌情報をディスプレイする。
【００１６】
また引用関係図上に表示する各各のｅｌｅｍｅｎｔには開ける及び閉じるボタンを追加に表示して上記開ける及び閉じるボタンをクリックすると該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔと直接的に関連のある特許に対するｅｌｅｍｅｎｔを追加に見せたりまた元の状態に復元して表示する。
【００１７】
この時上記開ける及び閉じるボタンは各各’＋’，’−’と表示しまたは開けた時現われる特許の数および引用関係線の数を表示するのが可能である。
【００１８】
本発明により引用関係図は引用関係図上に表示された各ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔにマウスポインタを位置した後右側のマウスボタンを押すと、
該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許に対する特許内容全文を見るかまたは引用関係図上で該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許に関連した特許だけを強調し表示するかまた引用関係図上にて該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許に対する直接的関連特許を追加に開けるか閉じるかまた引用関係図上から該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許が属するグループを除去するかまた該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許と同一な出願人または発明者または国際特許分類コードまたは米国特許分類コードを持つ特許を引用関係図上に同じグループに束ねて表示するかまたは該当ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔ特許を対象特許に変更してバックワード／フォワード／Ｃｏｌｌａｔｅｒａｌ引用関係図を再び生成するかを使用者に選択する様にした後選択により実行する。
【００１９】
一便本発明において同一ｅｌｅｍｅｎｔに対する多数の引用関係線を区分する為仮想円の円周を細分して表示する段階は，
引用関係図上に表示したｅｌｅｍｅｎｔの面積範囲以内の大きさを持ちｅｌｅｍｅｎｔの中心座標値を中心に仮想円を生成する段階と，
上記仮想の円周を１３区画に細分した後各区画別に相異なる１つの引用関係線を順序により指定して表示する段階と，
引用関係線が１３個が殘る時１３分等された各区画をまた３等分して１４番目の引用関係線は１番目の１３分等区画内の１番目の３等分区画に１５番目の引用関係線は２番目の１３分等区画内の１番目の３等分区画の順などに指定して表示する段階と，
各各の引用関係線は仮想円の円周から出発する事にしても実際引用関係図上にｅｌｅｍｅｎｔが持つ面積の側面から表示する段階を包含してなされるのが望ましい。
本発明による分析方法を通じ自社および競争社の特許に対する価値がどの程度で、競争会社の特許に対し自社製品の侵害可能性はどの程度で、回避する戦略は何か自社特許に対する競争社の製品侵害可能性はどの程度かの情報を得る事が出来る。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】図１は本発明による一実施例でバックワード特許分析時の画面構成図である。
【図２】図２は図１の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後完全にひらけた状態の引用関係図である。
【図３】図３は本発明による一実施例でフォワード特許分析時の画面構成図である。
【図４】図４は図３の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後完全に開けた状態の引用関係図である。
【図５】図５は本発明による一実施例でＣｏｌｌａｔｅｒａｌ特許分析時の画面構成図である。
【図６】図６は図５の引用関係図からフィルタリング条件を解除した後の完全に開けた状態の引用関係図である。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for analyzing and providing a mutual citation relationship of patents and the like related to a target patent to be searched from a patent database having a field containing patent information of a prior patent cited at the time of filing a patent application. is there.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As the industry develops, the value of intellectual property rights becomes the most important and is one of the major factors that determine the rise and fall of companies. Some of the world's leading companies, which have invested in enormous amounts of money, have fallen instantly because of the core patents of competitors. Right now, intellectual property rights are the only defense and a means of survival to survive.
[0003]
In this urgent situation, each company analyzes the intellectual property rights of its competitors and strives to establish its own R & D strategy. And many such software companies have developed patent analysis frames, as such analysis is a huge task that takes a considerable amount of time and is performed automatically by many specialists. However, most of these conventional patent analysis frames provide only external quantitative analysis information and hardly provide the necessary normal information. That is, in the conventional patent analysis framework, what is the value of the company and its competitors 'patents, what is the possibility of infringement of their products against competitors' patents, and what are the avoidable strategies for their patents? The competitor could not provide a measure of the likelihood of infringement.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention seeks to complement the disadvantages of the prior art as described above. The mutual citation relationship of patents related to the target patent to be searched from a patent database having a field containing the patent information of the prior patent cited at the time of filing the patent application. The purpose is to present a method for analyzing and providing.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention for achieving the above object is achieved by including the following steps.
That is, inputting at least one of the application number, publication number, or registration number of the target patent (hereinafter referred to as 'patent number');
Analyze the patent that the subject patent entered in the prior patent was cited at the time of filing (hereinafter referred to as the “Backward patent”) or the patent that referred to the subject patent entered in the prior patent at the time of filing (hereinafter the “Forward patent”) Choosing to analyze the 'Patent' patent or to combine the backward and forward patents (hereinafter the 'Collateral patent') to analyze;
According to the above selection conditions, even if a search is performed from the “Referenced cited” information in each of the priored patent information stored in the preceding patent database, the patent in which the patent number of the target patent is directly written in the “Referenced cited” first ( After searching for "directly related patents", a patent (hereinafter referred to as "indirectly related patents") in which the patent number of the directly related patents searched above is directly added to "Reference cited" of the prior patent database is additionally searched. Stages and
When selecting an analysis for a backward patent, a citation tree showing a relation between the target patent and the searched direct and indirectly related backward patents is generated, and a partial area of the screen is generated. To display on the
When selecting an analysis for a forward patent, the subject patent generates a citation relationship diagram that schematically shows the relationship between the searched direct and indirectly related forward patents and displays the citation relationship diagram in a partial area of the screen. ,
When selecting an analysis for a collateral patent, the relationship between the subject patent and the searched direct and indirect related forward patents, together with the relationship between the subject patent and the searched direct and indirect related forward patents, is determined. Displaying a citation relationship diagram that appears graphically in a partial area of the generation screen,
Enlarging or reducing the citation relationship diagram according to the user's selection and displaying it on the screen;
After performing an additional search for one of the specific applicant, inventor, International Patent Classification Code (IPC), United States Patent Classification Code (UPC), and patent year that have a direct and indirect relationship with the target patent, Providing a function of grouping and adding a citation relationship to the above citation relationship diagram;
Storing or printing the citation relation diagram displayed on the screen according to the user's selection,
Storing or printing the entire direct and indirectly relevant patent retrieved by the user's choice;
The above-mentioned stored patent is achieved by creating an edited document using only the fields selected by the user in the bibliographic matter, or by creating a diagram for a specific field and providing it to the user. .
At this time, considering that the number of directly and indirectly related patents searched is large when selecting the backward or forward analysis, it is difficult to use the information efficiently by the user when showing at a time through the citation relationship diagram.
Depth of the patent to be displayed on the citation relation diagram within the searched patent range (patents directly related to the target patent are defined as 'depth1 patents' and patents directly related to the depth1 patents are 'depth2 patents') The user selects
The user is notified of the number of patents corresponding to the selected depth and the time required to generate and display the citation relation diagram, and informs the user of the time. It is hoped that a citation relationship diagram will be generated according to the selection conditions of. Good.
After the search stage for direct and indirect related patents,
Filtering the searched direct and indirect related patents by adding a condition to an optional search field;
The direct and indirect patents searched through the filtering step are large in number, and the direct and indirect patents searched through the filtering step in consideration of the difficulty of efficient use of information when appearing at a time through these citation relation diagrams are considered. A step in which the user selects the depth of the patent to be displayed on the citation relation chart within the scope of the indirectly related patent;
Notifying the user of the number of patents corresponding to the selected depth and the time required to generate and display the citation relationship diagram, and informing the user of this, and selecting one of them;
Generating a citation relation diagram based on the selected condition when the user selects;
Providing a function that allows the user to select the citation relationship diagram generated after the filtering, to display the entire citation relationship diagram with the filtering condition removed, or to convert the citation relationship diagram to a state where the filtering condition is applied. It is also desirable to additionally include
[0006]
In one embodiment of the present invention, when the search field to be filtered is "applicant" and the filtering condition is "applicant rank 1, 2, 3rd with the largest number of applications or registrations", the items displayed on the screen are: Each analysis mode is classified as follows.
[0007]
Earlier, when the analysis was selected for the backward patent, it appeared in FIG. 1 when the subject patent was analyzed against US Patent Registration No. 5,760,526.
[0008]
Items displayed as shown in FIG. 1 include patents for the retrieved direct and indirect related backward patents as a whole,
After sorting the searched direct and indirectly related backward patents as a whole by applicant and sorting the list in the order of the applicant with the largest number of applications or registrations,
In order to graphically provide only the core information to the user, only the data of the applicant who ranks first, second and third out of the aligned data is extracted, and only the extracted data is used between the target patent and the backward patent. Includes a citation relationship diagram that graphically illustrates the relationship between word patents. At this time, the citation relationship diagram completely opened after the filtering condition is canceled from the citation relationship diagram of FIG. 1 is the same as that of FIG.
[0009]
FIG. 3 shows a case where the analysis for the forward patent was selected and the subject patent was analyzed against US Pat. No. 5,123,456.
[0010]
Items displayed as shown in FIG. 3 are:
A list of patents for all of the directly and indirectly related forward patents retrieved above,
A list in which the retrieved direct and indirectly related forward patents are sorted by applicant and sorted by applicant with the largest number of applications or registrations,
In order to provide only the core information to the user graphically, only the data of the applicant ranked first, second and third out of the sorted data is extracted, and only the extracted data is used to obtain the target patent and forward patent. And a citation relationship diagram that graphically illustrates the relationship between forward and forward patents. At this time, it is the same as the citation relationship diagram 4 completely opened after the filtering condition is canceled from the citation relationship diagram of FIG.
[0011]
FIG. 5 shows a case where the analysis for the collateral patent was selected, and the case where the subject patent was analyzed against US Pat. No. 5,123,456.
[0012]
Items displayed in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5 include a list of patents for the entire directly related backward patent searched above,
A list of patents for the entire directly searched forward patents retrieved above,
A list of patents directly related to the retrieved indirectly related backward and forward patents (the depth1 patent) and the patents directly related to the depth1 patent (the depth2 patent),
In order to graphically provide only the core information to the user, mainly the target patent, one of which is a backward patent (depth1 backward patent) directly related to the target patent and a forward patent which is directly related to the depth1 backward patent. The relationship between patents is schematically shown, and the forward patent (depth1 forward patent) directly related to the subject patent and the backward patent directly related to the depth1 forward patent are mainly and / or relative to the subject patent. In this case, the citation relation diagram which shows the relations between them schematically is completely the same as that of FIG. 6 after the filtering condition is removed from the citation relation diagram of FIG.
[0013]
In the above embodiment, when selecting the analysis for the backward patent and when selecting the analysis for the forward patent, it is selected so that the user can include all the data of the applicant having the ranking of 4th or less on the above cited relation diagram. Then, the citation relation diagram is generated again and displayed.
[0014]
One step of generating a citation relation diagram according to the present invention is as follows.
After the primary sorting of the retrieved patents by application year, publication year or registration year (hereinafter referred to as "patent year"), the patents belonging to the same year are secondarily sorted and arranged in patent number order. Assigning a center coordinate value to each of the sorted patents (hereinafter, referred to as "elements") based on the sorted and aligned positions, and displaying the corresponding element on the screen with the assigned coordinate values;
Even if a citation relation line connecting the central coordinate values between elements having a direct or indirect relation to each other in the above elements is additionally displayed, the division of the direct relation and the indirect relation is such that the line form or the color image of the line is different. Displaying the departure point and the arrival point of the citation relation line on the corresponding element according to the forward / backward relation that is separately referred to;
When a plurality of citation relations exist and the citation relation lines become thicker together, a virtual circle is generated at the center of the center coordinate value of the element corresponding to the point where the citation relation line starts, in order to distinguish each citation relation line. Subdividing the circumference of the image to a predetermined ratio and designating and displaying the starting point of the citation relation line differently at each of the subdivided intervals;
When the user changes the display conditions, the method includes a step of recalculating and displaying the center coordinate value of each element displayed on the citation relation diagram according to the changed conditions.
[0015]
At this time, each element displayed on the citation relationship diagram is the applicant or inventor of the corresponding patent, the U.S. Patent Classification Code (UPC) or the International Patent Classification Code (IPC), or the mouse pointer displayed in the first year of the patent. When it is positioned above, the bibliographic information of the corresponding patent is displayed.
[0016]
In addition, each of the elements displayed on the citation relation diagram is additionally provided with an open / close button, and when the above open / close button is clicked, an element for a patent directly related to the corresponding element is additionally displayed. Restore and display the original state.
[0017]
At this time, the open and close buttons can be displayed as '+' and '-', respectively, or the number of patents and the number of citation lines appearing when opened can be displayed.
[0018]
According to the present invention, when the mouse button on the right side is pressed after the mouse pointer is positioned on each element displayed on the citation relation diagram,
Whether to view the full text of the patent for the element patent or highlight and display only the patent related to the element patent on the citation relationship diagram, or open additional directly related patents for the element patent on the citation relationship diagram Close or remove the group to which the element patent belongs from the citation relationship diagram, or apply the same applicant or inventor as the corresponding element patent or a patent having an international patent classification code or US patent classification code to the citation relationship diagram The user selects whether to display in a group or to change the element patent to a target patent and generate a backward / forward / Collateral citation diagram again, and then execute the selection.
[0019]
In the present invention, the step of subdividing and displaying the circumference of the virtual circle in order to divide a number of citation relation lines for the same element includes:
Generating a virtual circle having a size within the area range of the element displayed on the citation relation diagram and centering on the center coordinate value of the element;
Subdividing the virtual circumference into 13 sections, and specifying and displaying, in order, one different citation relation line for each section;
When 13 quotation lines are left, each section of 13 minutes is divided into three equal parts, and the 14th quotation line is 15th in the first three equally divided sections of the first 13 minute division. And displaying the citation relationship line of the designated and the like in the order of the first three-divided section in the second 13-minute divided section,
Even though each citation relation line starts from the circumference of the virtual circle, it is preferable that the citation relation line includes a step of displaying the element from the side of the area of the element on the actual citation relation diagram.
What is the value of your and your competitors 'patents through the analysis method according to the present invention, what is the likelihood of infringement of your products against your competitors' patents, and what are the strategies to avoid? You can get information about the possibility.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a screen configuration at the time of backward patent analysis in an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a citation relation diagram in which the filtering condition is completely removed from the citation relation diagram of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen configuration at the time of forward patent analysis in one embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a citation relation diagram in a state in which the filtering condition is released from the citation relation diagram of FIG. 3 and then completely opened.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a screen configuration at the time of collateral patent analysis in one embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a citation relationship diagram of the citation relationship diagram of FIG. 5 in a completely opened state after filtering conditions are canceled.

Claims

Patents to be searched (hereinafter referred to as “target patents”) to be searched from a patent database (hereinafter referred to as “whole prior patent database”) having a field (hereinafter referred to as “Referenced patents”) in which patent information of prior patents cited at the time of filing the patent application is entered. In the method for analyzing and providing cross-citation relationships of patents related to
Inputting at least one of the application number, publication number, or registration number of the target patent (hereinafter referred to as the 'patent number'); and the patent cited at the time of filing of the input target patent in the prior patent (the 'backward patent') Analyzing the patents referred to at the time of filing the target patent entered in the prior patent (hereinafter referred to as "forward patent"), or integrating the backward patent and the forward patent (hereinafter referred to as "Collateral patent") Choosing to analyze;
Patents in which the patent number of the target patent is directly written in 'Reference cited' first even if a search is performed from the 'Reference cited' information in the information of each prior patent stored in the prior patent database according to the above selection conditions. After searching for "directly related patents", add a patent (hereinafter referred to as "indirectly related patent") in which the patent number of the searched directly related patent is directly written in "Reference cited" of the prior patent database. Searching;
When the analysis on the backward patent is selected, a citation tree (citation tree) that schematically shows the relationship between the target patent and the retrieved directly and indirectly related backward patents is generated and a partial area of the screen is generated. Displaying on the display;
When the analysis on the forward patent is selected, the relation between the target patent and the searched direct and indirectly related forward patents is graphically expressed, a citation relation diagram is generated, and displayed in a partial area of the screen;
When the analysis for the collateral patent is selected, all the relations between the target patent and the searched direct and indirectly related backward patents schematically show the relations between the target patent and the searched direct and indirectly related forward patents. Generating a citation relation diagram and displaying it in a partial area of the screen;
Enlarging or reducing the citation relationship diagram according to the user's selection and displaying it on a screen;
The target patents are directly and indirectly related to the specific applicant, the inventor, the International Patent Classification Code (IPC), the United States Patent Classification Code (UPC), and the search results after one additional search by patent year. Providing a function that can be added to the above-mentioned citation relation diagram by converting the citation relation into a citation relation;
Storing and printing the citation relationship diagram displayed on the screen according to the user's selection;
Storing and printing the entire direct and indirect related patents retrieved by the user's choice;
Creating an edited document of the stored patents using only the fields selected by the user in the bibliographic matter, or preparing a chart for a specific field and providing the user with the charts;
A method for analyzing and providing interrelationships between patents from a patent database that includes:

When the backward or forward analysis is selected in claim 1, it is difficult for the user to utilize the information efficiently when appearing at once through these citation relation diagrams in which the number of searched direct and indirectly related patents is large. Considering
Depth of the patent to be displayed on the citation relationship diagram from within the searched patent range (the subject patent is defined as a directly related patent as' depth1 patent 'and a patent directly related to depth1 patent as' depth2 patent) Selecting a 'patent') by the user;
Informing the user of the number of patents corresponding to the selected depth and the time required to generate and display the citation relation diagram and instructing the user to select one of them; A method for analyzing and providing the interrelationship between patents from a patent database, wherein a citation relationship diagram is generated by selection of the above.

In claim 1, after the step of searching for direct and indirect related patents,
Filtering the searched direct and indirect related patents by adding a condition to an arbitrary search field; and displaying the direct and indirect related patents on the citation relation diagram within the scope of the searched direct and indirect related patents through the filtering step. The user selecting the depth of the patent to be obtained;
Informing the user of the number of patents corresponding to the selected depth and the time required to generate and display the citation relationship diagram, and instructing the user to select one of them;
Generating a citation relation diagram according to the selected conditions when the user selects;
Showing the entire citation relation diagram with the filtering condition removed from the citation relation diagram generated after the filtering by the user's selection, or providing a function that can be provided in the citation relation diagram with the filtering condition applied. A method for analyzing and providing interrelationships between patents from a patent database, which is additionally included.

In claim 3, when the search field to be filtered is set to "applicant" and the filtering condition is set to "ranking applicants with the largest number of applications or registrations, first, second, and third", the items displayed on the screen are:
When the analysis for backward patents is selected, the list of patents for the entirety of the searched direct and indirectly related backward patents; and the application after sorting the entirety of the searched direct and indirectly related backward patents by applicant, or List of applicants with the highest number of registrations sorted by rank;
In order to provide the user with only the core information graphically, only the data of the applicant ranked in the first, second and third place in the aligned data is extracted, and only the extracted data is used between the target patent and the backward patent. And a citation relationship diagram that schematically shows the relationship between the backward patents;
When selecting analysis on forward patents, a list of patents for all of the directly and indirectly related forward patents retrieved above;
A list sorted by applicant with the highest number of applications or registrations after sorting by applicant all of the retrieved direct and indirect related forward patents;
In order to provide only the core information to the user graphically, only the data of the applicant ranked in the first, second and third place in the sorted data is extracted and the target patent is the forward patent. And a citation relationship diagram that graphically depicts the relationship between
When selecting an analysis for a collateral patent, a list of patents for the entirety of the searched directly related backward patents; and a list of patents for the entirety of the searched and directly related forward patents;
A list of patents for the retrieved indirectly related backward and forward patents (depth1 patent) directly related to the subject patent and patents directly related to the depth1 patent (depth2 patent);
One side mainly focuses on the target patent for providing only the core information to the user graphically. On one side, the backward patent directly related to the target patent (depth1 backward patent) and the direct relation to the above depth1 backward patent , The relationship between the forward patents shown in FIG. 1 is schematically shown, and the forward patent (depth1 forward patent) directly related to the subject patent and the back patent directly related to the depth1 forward patent are directly related to the subject patent. A method for analyzing and providing the interrelationship between patents from a patent database, which includes a citation relation diagram that schematically shows the relation between word patents.

In claim 4, when the analysis for the backward patent and the analysis for the forward patent are selected,
If the user selects such that all data of applicants who have the ranking of 4th or lower on the above-mentioned citation relation chart can be included, the citation relation chart is generated and displayed again. How to analyze and provide relationships.

In any one of claims 1 to 5, the step of generating the citation relation diagram includes the steps of:
A stage in which the retrieved patents are first sorted by application year, publication year or registration year by one year (hereinafter referred to as “patent year”), and then patents belonging to the same year are secondarily sorted and arranged in patent number order. ;
Assigning a center coordinate value for each of the sorted patents (hereinafter, referred to as “elements”) based on the sorted and aligned positions, and displaying a corresponding element on the screen with the assigned coordinate values;
Even if a citation relation line connected to the central coordinate value between elements in direct or indirect relation between the elements is additionally displayed, the division of the direct relation and the indirect relation is represented by a line shape or a color image of the line. Displaying the starting point and the arriving point of the quotation relation line separately on the corresponding element according to the preceding / following relation that is categorized differently;
When a plurality of citation relations are present and the citation relation lines are aligned, each citation relation line is divided to generate a virtual circle centering on the center coordinate value of the element corresponding to the point where the citation relation line starts, and then the above virtual Subdividing the circumference to a predetermined ratio and designating and marking the starting point of the citation relation line differently at each of the subdivided intervals;
A step of recalculating and displaying the center coordinate value of each element displayed on the citation relation diagram according to the changed condition when the user changes the display condition. How to analyze and provide interrelationships between patents.

7. The applicant or inventor or the United States Patent Classification Code (UPC) or the International Patent Classification Code (IPC) for the patent corresponding to each element displayed on the citation relationship diagram in Claim 6, or one of the patent years. And displaying the bibliographic information of the corresponding patent when the mouse pointer is positioned on the element, and analyzing and providing the interrelationship between the patents from the patent database.

In claim 6, when each of the elements displayed on the citation relationship diagram further includes an open and close button, clicking the open and close buttons causes an element for a patent directly related to the corresponding element to be displayed. A method of analyzing and providing the interrelationship between patents from a patent database, characterized in that it is additionally shown or restored and displayed in its original state.

9. The patent database according to claim 8, wherein the open and close buttons are indicated by "+", "-" in each case, or by the number of patents or citation lines appearing when opened. A method of analyzing and providing the interrelationship between patents.

In Claim 6, when the mouse pointer is positioned on each element displayed on the citation relation diagram and the right mouse button is pressed, the entire patent content for the corresponding element patent is viewed or the relevant patent is displayed on the citation relation diagram. Either highlight the patent alone, open or close the related patent directly to the element patent on the citation relationship diagram, remove the group to which the element patent belongs from the citation relationship diagram, or The same applicant or inventor or the patent having the international patent classification code or U.S. patent classification code as the corresponding element patent shall be bundled and displayed in the same group on the citation relation diagram, or the corresponding element patent shall be designated as the subject patent. Change to Backward / Forward / Collateral citation relationship diagram Method for providing by analyzing the correlation between patents from the patent database, characterized in that the run was to select the user whether to generate again.

In claim 6, the step of subdividing and displaying the circumference of the virtual circle to distinguish a number of citation relation lines for the same element includes:
Generating a virtual circle having a size within the area range of the element displayed on the citation relation diagram and centered on the center coordinate value of the element;
Subdividing the virtual circumference into 13 sections and specifying and displaying the same citation relation line order that is different for each section;
When there are 13 citation lines, when the remaining space is too small, each of the 13-minute divisions is divided into three equal parts, and the 14th citation-relation line is the first in the 13th equal division and 15th in the first three-part division. A step of designating and displaying the second citation relation line in the order of the first and third equally divided sections in the second and 13th equally divided sections;
Each of the citation relation lines starts from the circumference of the virtual circle, and is displayed on the actual citation relation diagram from the side of the element possessed by the element. A method of analyzing and providing interrelationships between.